LETTER: Lafayette president responds to column

In his column on Sunday, Jan. 27, Express-Times Editor Jim Deegan touches on two matters of great concern to Lafayette College and to me personally, the well-being of our students and our relationship with the Easton community.

With respect to students’ well-being, Lafayette complies, as it must, with federal law designed to protect the privacy of student records. The law prohibits the disclosure of records of various kinds without a student’s authorization. This includes information relating to college disciplinary actions that individual students are subject to as a consequence of violating college policies.

As discussed in Sunday’s Express-Times news story, “Lafayette College student’s death prompts review of underground fraternities,” the Easton Police Department conducted an investigation into the tragic death of Everett Glenn on our campus on May 5. The college cooperated fully in this investigation and withheld no information. While the investigation did not result in any criminal charges being filed by the police, it did result in disciplinary action being taken by the college against students who were found to have violated Lafayette policies on that day. The students were held accountable for their behavior through the college’s disciplinary system and received a range of penalties, including suspension.

We place great value on our relationship with the Easton community and take pride in the high-quality, collaborative nature of the relationship.

Accordingly, we aspire to demonstrate our respect for the community in all that we do, and to be transparent in all our operations for which openness is appropriate.